11 Facts About Isaac Holden

Sir Isaac Holden, 1st Baronet was an inventor and manufacturer, who is known both for his work in developing the Square Motion wool-combing machine and as a Radical Liberal Member of Parliament.

Isaac Holden was largely self-educated: his formal education was often disrupted.

Isaac Holden became a pupil-teacher and then sought to become a Wesleyan Minister, before teaching at schools in Slaithwaite and Leeds.

In 1829 Isaac Holden obtained a post at the Castle Academy in Reading, Berkshire.

Isaac Holden left Townsends in 1846 to set up a factory making Paisley shawl middles at Pit Lane in Bradford.

Isaac Holden then set up factories in France, at Croix near Lille and at Reims, run by his nephews Isaac Holden Crothers and Jonathon Holden.

Isaac Holden celebrated his success by building a large Italianate mansion at Oakworth near Keighley in Yorkshire.

In 1865 Isaac Holden was elected to serve as a Liberal Member of Parliament for Knaresborough from 1865 to 1868, and later for the Northern West Riding of Yorkshire from 1882 to 1885 and for Keighley from 1885 to 1895.

Isaac Holden died in August 1897, aged 90, and was buried in Undercliffe Cemetery, Bradford.

Isaac Holden was succeeded in the baronetcy by his eldest son Angus Holden.

Isaac Holden was twice married: firstly in 1832 to Marion Love with whom he had four children; secondly in 1850 to Sarah Sugden by whom he had no further children.